Holiday Mars - Stratotone Mars
Electric hollowbody - Redburst - Distributed by Aldens - Based on Harmony H45
Production year(s) : 1966 (other years possible, not verified)

Some samples have a single (original) f-hole. One reported stamped 2293 8396, so 8396 may be the Alden model number.

15 images in database mouse over image for file name - click to enlarge

Scale

24"1/4

615 mm

12 comments | Add your comment !

• josh - 2007-12-26
  i have one of these that i got from my grandfather and i enjoy playing it just knowing how old it is
• Tonedog - 2008-01-09
  I have one of these over here in the UK, it has an F-hole too! I bought it from a guy in Montana about 4 years ago. Great tone from the pickup, a cheap classic guitar with a great sound.
• shelby jenkins - 2008-04-13
  I got one of these in a pawn shop for $50. It was covered in stickers. Someone added Gotoh tuners, and the bridge is different. It doesn't have a a wood piece just a metal bar.
  Also a humbucker was either or added or it came with it, I don't know as it looks very ancient.
  A great deal for the price. I plan on removing the stickers and buying a new bridge as it is rusted and the rollers are made out of plastic.
  It is not as playable as it could be, but proper ally set up it should be a lot better!
  Also it is a hollow body which is awesome!
• suproman - 2008-04-21
  i just got a black one , i really like the thick neck , the sound is fantastic , im now looking to buy another one maybe the two pickup one , if your looking for a great sounding guitar , light weight , easy to play,this is agraet one to try.
• 61Ferrari - 2008-04-21
  I got one of these H-45 Holiday guitars from a local fellow off CL. It has the F hole and unless it's the best fake in the world it appears original to the guitar. It' stamped inside "S-66-HM" with "made in U" under it. The SA from USA must've not printed. There is red overspray on the inside of the guitar.
• Manny Jr. - 2008-10-08
  I just recently got one of these guitars from my father. He was the original owner. He said he bought it from an Alden's mail order catalog in 1960 and it cost him 69 dollars. The volume and tone knobs are metal chrome. He took very good care of it and it is in perfect working condition. The red bust finish is also still bright and shiny with very minor scratches from normal use. The sound is produces is incredible.
• Manny Jr. - 2008-10-08
  I failed to mention that my father told me that the price of 69 dollars included a cheap guitar case with a simple instrument cable and a 3-tube amplifier. He described the amp as having three instrument jacks and a single volume knob. I think the amp he is describing is the H400. I found an old Harmony add which sold just the amp alone for 49.50, which means the H45 alone must have sold for 20 dollars.
• Pulled Pork Picker - 2009-07-29
  My wife has one of these given to us by a friend who used to get some very Marc Ribot-equse sounds out of it. The action is astoundingly low and effortless.
• Mighty Atom - 2009-11-07
  I've just bought one on e-bay here in UK. It seems totally original and has F hole. Re-strung & tuned to open E for slide, it sounds awesome!
  I'm trying it out on a gig tonight.
• Mighty Atom - 2009-11-08
  Did the gig last night with it & very impressed! I put it through my Fender '59 Bassman - and wow! I got lots of comments along the lines of "a real Elmore James sound"
  Incidentally, serial number stamped on inside is 42 8396
• David - 2009-12-15
  I just purchased one of these today from a friend of mine. He, not knowing what he had, I traded him straight up for it with a pocket knife! boy, I'm glad I did! after wiping off the dust and grime, giving it a quick polish, to bring the beautiful finish back to life, and tuning this beauty up, she was ready to be played through my 1980 Fender tube amp. let me tell you, the sound was great! it has such a nice rich tone, and that single pick-up sure is a hot one!! After jamming out to some jazz and blues, finding out the year and history of this guitar was next to do. After a quick removal of the pickguard, and discovering the factory stamped serial number, reading, F-65-WN, a smile came to my face. Being a total retro freak that I am, this guitar will be a nice addition to my lifestyle. All it took was a cheap $10 pocket knife!
• braxton salyer - 2010-05-18
  i have one of these and its in almost perfect condition...a tuner broke so they had to be replaced along with the input jack....but we still have that hardware along with the original case.....it used to be my uncles b4 he died....the only repairing it needs doen is to be revarnished in the back of it